Results 141-160 of 519 for speaker:Mary Ann O'Brien

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Senator John Crown who, unfortunately, only had one and a half minutes to speak last night, was beginning to come up with some very good progressive ideas on how we could save money in other areas. Carers become stressed and may get sick when they are not cared for. Do we want them to spend their days in hospital, as Senator John Crown asked last night? If even 10% of carers or carees were...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: It is the function of the Minister for Health.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: That would be for the Minister for Health, not the Minister for Social Protection.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

Mary Ann O'Brien: That keeps thousands employed.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Gay Mitchell, MEP (24 Jan 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I extend a warm welcome to Gay Mitchell, MEP, and thank him for coming to the House and for his wonderful speech in celebration of the 40th anniversary of our membership of the EU. Like the previous speaker, I will mention some wonderful commercial developments that have benefited our country. A total of 60% of our exports go to Europe, with 79% of our food exports going there. A very...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Gay Mitchell, MEP (24 Jan 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: The EU could be the leader in the world on this. I remind the House that the EU allows 60 additives to be added to wine. One would say this is fine although one would like a label on one's wine bottle. I am sure one would like to know that protease, which is derived from porcine or bovine stomachs, is in wine. Other additives in wine could include gelatine, which the House will be glad to...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Gay Mitchell, MEP (24 Jan 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I beg Mr. Mitchell to keep an eye on genetically modified foods. We made a wonderful start in 2003 by saying no to genetically modified foods and should be the world's watchdog in respect of genetically modified ingredients. Slowly but surely, however, it is beginning to slip. We are allowing a little bit of corn and some animal feed in and there is much more pending. If one looks at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burger Content Investigations: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister and Professor Reilly for coming before the committee. I have questions for both of them. Has the Minister and his Department knowledge of how long these bulking agents that have affected our precious beef industry been used in these processing plants? Following on from the Minister's statement and one of his earlier comments, why would Silvercrest buy from Poland...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burger Content Investigations: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I wish to comment passionately on how proud we are of our food safety standards, the Food Harvest 2020 strategy and everything to do with our food production. It is something positive to take away from this discussion because it is tough going. However, we were the ones to spot the problem. Senator Paschal Mooney raised some interesting points. I implore the Minister to think...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burger Content Investigations: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: It was £1 sterling.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Burger Content Investigations: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Dog food has a higher price per kilo, which is frightening.

Seanad: Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I thank the Minister for introducing this Bill. I first raised this issue in the Seanad in November 2011 because, in the context of our preparations for the centenary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Rising, I felt it important to draw the attention of the House to a forgotten, although no less brave, cohort of men. In granting a pardon, the Minister has made an historic decision for which...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I wish to restate a call I made before the Christmas recess for a debate on Ireland's foreign aid budget. On that occasion, many Senators expressed difficulty with my stance on the issue but welcomed the idea of a mature and responsible debate on the topic. Ireland spent ¤639 million in 2012 with a further ¤623 million due to be spent this year. More than 80% of this money will go to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (14 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: I apologise for being late. I will keep my questions for Mr. Joe Keeling extremely brief. I welcome Horse Racing Ireland to the committee. We are all excited about Mr. Keeling taking the chair and looking forward to all the innovations and changes he is going to introduce. Legislation on betting is about to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas. We are living in a very different time...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (28 Feb 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: On numerous occasions, including on the Order of Business or during debates with Ministers with responsibility for public sector reform, I have raised my concerns and fears about the slow pace of reform of practices within the sector. One debate springs to mind with the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, on the subject of the Croke Park agreement. We discussed differing views on whether...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: This evening presents the Seanad with a great opportunity to discuss its future in a meaningful and real fashion. Too often in recent months there have been discussions in this House about the Chamber's future which have portrayed the Seanad and its Members in a very negative light. At times it has resembled animals trying to avoid the slaughter. However, tonight's debate brought about by...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Perhaps Senators Zappone and Quinn had consulted deeply with Senator Crown because they have worked very hard and long hours on their own reform document. I welcome Senator Daly's words and Senator Bradford's earlier contribution. In terms of the content of the Bill, for the most part I would support it in its entirety as it goes a long way to addressing many of the problems we have in the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: Under Senator Crown's Bill every citizen entitled to vote in local elections will be entitled to a Seanad vote. This undoubtedly would break the hold to some extent that the political establishment has on the Seanad's membership. Also worth noting is a clause that ensures that Seanad elections will occur on the same day as the Dáil polling day. I welcome this. By extension, it will also...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: This Bill is meant to be about reform and making this Chamber more reflective of Irish society. We have to move away from historical hang-ups. For me, the days of treating Trinity differently have come and gone. For instance, would it not be possible to have one six-seat panel for all graduates? Could we move Dublin City University and University of Limerick graduates into Senator Crown's...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Mary Ann O'Brien: As long as you do not guillotine the Bill.